For the Consumer

Along with its needed effects, etravirine (the active ingredient contained in Intelence) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking etravirine:

Some side effects of etravirine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More Common

Less Common

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to etravirine: oral tablet

General

The safety report of this drug is based on 599 HIV-1-infected, therapy-experienced patients receiving 200 mg twice daily in combination with background regimen; the median exposure was 52.3 weeks. The most commonly reported side effects (of all intensities) were rash, diarrhea, nausea, and headache. Discontinuation due to side effects occurred in 5.2% of patients using this drug; a total of 2.2% of HIV-1-infected patients in phase 3 trials discontinued this drug due to rash.[Ref]

Hepatic

Grade 2 or higher abnormalities representing a worsening from baseline of AST, ALT, and total bilirubin have been reported in 27.8%, 25%, and 7.1%, respectively, in patients coinfected with hepatitis B and/or C virus as compared to 6.7%, 7.5%, and 1.8% reported in non-coinfected patients.

Grades 2, 3, and 4 elevated ALT have been reported in 6%, 3%, and 1% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 elevated AST have been reported in 6%, 3%, and less than 1% of patients, respectively.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Worsening from baseline of AST (up to 27.8%), worsening from baseline of ALT (up to 25%)

Common (1% to 10%): Worsening from baseline of total bilirubin, elevated ALT, elevated AST

Grades 2 and 3 elevated total cholesterol have been reported in 20% and 8% of patients, respectively. Grades 2 and 3 elevated low-density lipoprotein have been reported in 13% and 7% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 elevated triglycerides have been reported in 9%, 6%, and 4% of patients, respectively.[Ref]

During clinical trials, rash generally was mild to moderate, occurred chiefly in the second week of therapy, and was infrequent after the fourth week. Rash usually resolved within 1 to 2 weeks on continued use of the drug. The incidence of rash was higher in women taking this drug (at least grade 2 rash: 15%) compared to men (at least grade 2 rash: 9.5%). Discontinuation due to rash occurred in 5% of women compared to 1.9% of men. Patients with a history of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-related rash did not appear to be at increased risk.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Grades 2, 3, and 4 elevated pancreatic amylase have been reported in 7%, 7%, and 2% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 elevated lipase have been reported in 4%, 2%, and 1% of patients, respectively.[Ref]

Renal

Grades 2 and 3 elevated creatinine have been reported in 6% and 2% of patients, respectively.[Ref]

Hematologic

Grades 2, 3, and 4 decreased neutrophils have been reported in 5%, 4%, and 2% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 decreased platelet count have been reported in 3%, 1%, and less than 1% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 decreased hemoglobin have been reported in 2%, less than 1%, and less than 1% of patients, respectively. Grades 2, 3, and 4 decreased WBC count have been reported in 2%, 1%, and 1% of patients, respectively.[Ref]

4. Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents
"Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents Living with HIV
Available from: URL: https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adultandadolescentgl.pdf." ([2018, Mar 27]):